[rn500]

Hi - I apologize if this has been more thoroughly addressed here before, but I am a little overwhelmed by my NI research and I may have overlooked it! I was wondering if those here who presently work in the NI field would give me specifics on your education? I have been looking into a BS in computer science vs a BS in Information technology and trying to figure out which will be the right fit for me. So what I'd like to know is:

-What type of NI job do you do presently, and the basics of what is involved in your job?

-What education did you have, and what college or training program did you attend? (I am strongly considering all-online)

-Was the pay scale what you expected?

Thanks so much for your responses.

Linda

[Mariah]

Linda

A good source of information would be the HIMSS survey they did this past Feb on nurses in nursing informatics. It will tell you salaries, education, and roles. Heres a link for it. http://www.himss.org/content/files/n...survey2004.pdf

[rn500]

Thanks Mariah - that was very helpful!

[rninformatics]

Hi rn500,
I can certainly understand you feeling a little overwhelmed related to learning about this specialty.
In answer to your questions: I currently work at a small pediatric hospital in Chicago. My title is Project Manager, Clinical Information System. My role is primarily to be an enterpreter between the I.S. Dept and the clinicians (physicians, RNs, nurses, lab, rad techs, pharmacisits, etc. I am responsible for trouble shooting system (the clinical computer applications utilized house wide) issues, problems, upgrades, testing, etc. Additionally I am involved in standardization and security of electronic patient data.

The bulk of my information systems/IT education has come as a result of - on the job training plus I have taken academic course work in database design, webpage production, system life cycle, and in other IT, IS, specific topics. I currently hold a BSN and am enrolled in Excelsior College's on-line Masters program.

"Was the pay scale what" I expected? LOL, sort of...when I secured my first informatics position I took a 10,000 cut in pay....from what I had been making as an RN......but I also worked 2 jobs prior to that and I entered this specialty (NI) without any formal IT/IS training or experience. My salary expectations have caught up to my skill set (and proven expertise in this specialty) and I now make a comfortable living.

If you yourself are trying to decide between two different degree focuses. Ask yourself which one's content really interests you.
Hope that helps.
Angela

Originally Posted by rn500

Hi - I apologize if this has been more thoroughly addressed here before, but I am a little overwhelmed by my NI research and I may have overlooked it! I was wondering if those here who presently work in the NI field would give me specifics on your education? I have been looking into a BS in computer science vs a BS in Information technology and trying to figure out which will be the right fit for me. So what I'd like to know is:

-What type of NI job do you do presently, and the basics of what is involved in your job?

-What education did you have, and what college or training program did you attend? (I am strongly considering all-online)

-Was the pay scale what you expected?

Thanks so much for your responses.

Linda